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This document provides a summary of various methods for the synthesis of tetrasubstituted axially chiral alkenes. The methods discussed include urea group-directed organocatalytic dihalogenation, Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H activation and directing group migration, cationic rhodium(I)/H8-BINAP-catalyzed chelation-controlled cycloaddition, Cu/Pd dual catalysis for arylboration, nickel-catalyzed cross-electrophile trans-aryl-benzylation, palladium-catalyzed C-H functionalization, Pd(II)-catalyzed thioether-directed alkenyl C-H olefination, Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling, asymmetric N-alkylation, chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed kinetic resolution, and asymmetric allylic substitution-isomerization. The methods demonstrate broad substrate scope and high enantioselectivities, but further research is needed to explore stereodivergent synthesis and applications in pharmaceutical chemistry. [Extracted from the article]

Human-like automatic deductive reasoning has always been one of the most challenging open problems in the interdisciplinary field of mathematics and artificial intelligence. This paper is the third in a series of our works. We built a neural-symbolic system, named FGeo-DRL, to automatically perform human-like geometric deductive reasoning. The neural part is an AI agent based on deep reinforcement learning, capable of autonomously learning problem-solving methods from the feedback of a formalized environment, without the need for human supervision. It leverages a pre-trained natural language model to establish a policy network for theorem selection and employ Monte Carlo Tree Search for heuristic exploration. The symbolic part is a reinforcement learning environment based on geometry formalization theory and FormalGeo, which models geometric problem solving (GPS) as a Markov Decision Process (MDP). In the formal symbolic system, the symmetry of plane geometric transformations ensures the uniqueness of geometric problems when converted into states. Finally, the known conditions and objectives of the problem form the state space, while the set of theorems forms the action space. Leveraging FGeo-DRL, we have achieved readable and verifiable automated solutions to geometric problems. Experiments conducted on the formalgeo7k dataset have achieved a problem-solving success rate of 86.40%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of contemporary artificial intelligence techniques to address geometric problems and automated deductive proofs has always been a grand challenge to the interdisciplinary field of mathematics and artificial intelligence. This is the fourth article in a series of our works, in our previous work, we established a geometric formalized system known as FormalGeo. Moreover, we annotated approximately 7000 geometric problems, forming the FormalGeo7k dataset. Despite the fact that FGPS (Formal Geometry Problem Solver) can achieve interpretable algebraic equation solving and human-like deductive reasoning, it often experiences timeouts due to the complexity of the search strategy. In this paper, we introduced FGeo-TP (theorem predictor), which utilizes the language model to predict the theorem sequences for solving geometry problems. The encoder and decoder components in the transformer architecture naturally establish a mapping between the sequences and embedding vectors, exhibiting inherent symmetry. We compare the effectiveness of various transformer architectures, such as BART or T5, in theorem prediction, and implement pruning in the search process of FGPS, thereby improving its performance when solving geometry problems. Our results demonstrate a significant increase in the problem-solving rate of the language model-enhanced FGeo-TP on the FormalGeo7k dataset, rising from 39.7% to 80.86%. Furthermore, FGeo-TP exhibits notable reductions in solution times and search steps across problems of varying difficulty levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we consider the theta correspondence over a non-Archimedean local field. Using the homological method and the theory of derivatives, we show that under a mild condition the big theta lift is irreducible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous construction of urban traffic roads, more and more new roads are cut off by existing roads to form "dead end roads". There is an urgent need for a trenchless method suitable for urban ultra-shallow overburden to build the undercrossing tunnel. To solve this problem, this paper proposed the micro pipe jacking and joint assembly structure (MPJ & JAS) method, which has the characteristics of shallow burial depth, low cost, short construction time, flexible cross-section setting and high space utilization. The MPJ & JAS method construct a large cross-section tunnel through assembling small cross-section elements, quite different from traditional methods. Therefore, this paper designed a CT-shaped integrated joint, the mechanical performance of which was verified and clarified by tensile test. The bending test and finite element (FE) analysis proved the reliability of MPJ & JAS tunnel structure, and confirmed the structure performances such as the failure models, crack behaviors, load–deflection response and stress–strain distribution. Moreover, the influences of the steel plate thickness, concrete strength and shear connector spacing were determined by the FE analysis. On the basis of test results and reasonable assumptions, a theoretical design method considering the influence of the CT-shaped integrated joint was proposed, which can effectively predict the bending strength of the MPJ & JAS tunnel structure with an error of less than 10%. Finally, in view of the characteristics of the MPJ & JAS method, the suitable micro pipe jacking machine, soil reinforcement measure, hydraulic traction construction technology, high-precision guidance system and concrete construction quality detection method based on the phased array ultrasonic imaging technology were developed, supporting the accurate and efficient construction of the MPJ & JAS tunnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity drives ecosystem processes, but its influence on deadwood decomposition is poorly understood. To test the effects of insect diversity on wood decomposition, we conducted a mesocosm experiment manipulating the species richness and functional diversity of beetles. We applied a novel approach using computed tomography scanning to quantify decomposition by insects and recorded fungal and bacterial communities. Decomposition rates increased with both species richness and functional diversity of beetles, but the effects of functional diversity were linked to beetle biomass, and to the presence of one large‐bodied species in particular. This suggests that mechanisms behind observed biodiversity effects are the selection effect, which is linked to the occurrence probability of large species, and the complementarity effect, which is driven by functional differentiation among species. Additionally, beetles had significant indirect effects on wood decomposition via bacterial diversity, fungal community composition, and fungal biomass. Our experiment shows that wood decomposition is driven by beetle diversity and its interactions with bacteria and fungi. This highlights that both insect and microbial biodiversity are critical to maintaining ecosystem functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Axially chiral N‐substituted quinazolinones are important bioactive molecules, which are presented in many synthetic drugs. However, most strategies toward their atroposelective synthesis are mainly limited to the axially chiral arylquinazolinone frameworks. The development of modular synthetic methods to access diverse quinazolinone‐based atropisomers remains scarce and challenging. Herein, we report the regio‐ and atroposelective synthesis of axially chiral N‐vinylquinazolinones via the strategy of asymmetric allylic substitution‐isomerization. The catalysis system utilized both asymmetric transition‐metal catalysis and organocatalysis to efficiently afford trisubstituted and tetrasubstituted N‐vinylquinazolinone atropisomers, respectively. With the meticulous design of β‐substituted allylic substrates, both Z‐ and E‐tetrasubstituted axially chiral N‐vinylquinazolinones were obtained in good yields and high enantioselectivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Axially chiral N‐substituted quinazolinones are important bioactive molecules, which are presented in many synthetic drugs. However, most strategies toward their atroposelective synthesis are mainly limited to the axially chiral arylquinazolinone frameworks. The development of modular synthetic methods to access diverse quinazolinone‐based atropisomers remains scarce and challenging. Herein, we report the regio‐ and atroposelective synthesis of axially chiral N‐vinylquinazolinones via the strategy of asymmetric allylic substitution‐isomerization. The catalysis system utilized both asymmetric transition‐metal catalysis and organocatalysis to efficiently afford trisubstituted and tetrasubstituted N‐vinylquinazolinone atropisomers, respectively. With the meticulous design of β‐substituted allylic substrates, both Z‐ and E‐tetrasubstituted axially chiral N‐vinylquinazolinones were obtained in good yields and high enantioselectivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have been found to play a role in the development of autoimmune diseases. In the past two years, studies have demonstrated a significantly increase of NETs in skin tissues during the early stages of IgAV, indicating their involvement in disease activity among children with IgAV. However, the presence of NETs in IgAV animal models has not yet been reported. The objective of this study is to investigate whether NETs are involved in the pathogenesis of IgA vasculitis (IgAV) rats. Methods: Twenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: the ovalbumin group, the gliadin group, and the control group. The IgAV rat models were established administering Indian ink with ovalbumin (ovalbumin group) or gliadin (gliadin group) with Freund's complete adjuvant. The cell-free DNA (cf-DNA) was quantified by using dsDNA quantification kit, while the levels of Immunoglobulins, complement C3 and myeloperoxidase-DNA (MPO-DNA) in serum were tested using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The IgA, complement C3 and NETs in tissues were detected through multiple immunofluorescences. Results: Both the ovalbumin group and gliadin group showed IgA and C3 deposition in various tissues, including the glomerular mesangial region, skin, and digestive tract, while the control group showed no such deposition. The levels of circulatory cf-DNA and MPO-DNA, which are components of NETs, were significantly elevated in both ovalbumin and gliadin groups compared with the control group. Furthermore, the presence of NETs were found in gastrointestinal and renal tissues of the ovalbumin and gliadin groups, but not in the control group. Conclusions: IgAV model rat can be established through the combination of ovalbumin and gliadin with Indian ink and Freund's complete adjuvant. This study provides the first confirmation that NETs are involved in the pathogenesis of IgAV rat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photonic spin Hall effect (PSHE) is an effective metrological tool to characterize the variation in weak refractive index (RI) and nanostructure parameters. In this Letter, a highly sensitive terahertz Janus sensor (JS) based on PSHE is proposed. Through the asymmetric arrangement of different dielectrics, the sensor has a Janus feature, realizing the multitasking of thickness and RI detection on multiple scales. When electromagnetic waves (EWs) are incident into the JS from the forward scale, the number of graphene layers (1–7 layers) can be exactly identified by thickness detection. Enhancing the PSHE by the property of graphene, the JS can extend the thickness change of the graphene layer at the nanometer level by 106 times to the millimeter level with a sensitivity of 3.02 × 10−3 m/nm. In the case of EWs backward scale propagation, based on the sensitivity of 6.244 × 10−3 m/RIU, the JS can identify different kinds of waterborne bacterium such as Vibrio cholerae, Escherichia coli, and Shigella flexneri, in the RI range of 1.355–1.43 with high precision. The design of the multiscale and multitasking JS with high sensitivity is of great significance for accelerating the research and exploration of graphene materials. In addition, it provides an idea for real-time, no-label, and low-cost detection in the biomedical field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cl- activated peroxymonosulfate (PMS) oxidation technology can effectively degrade pollutants, but the generation of chlorinated disinfection byproducts (DBPs) limits the application of this technology in water treatment. In this study, a method of nanobubbles (NBs) synergistic Cl-/PMS system was designed to try to improve this technology. The results showed the synergistic effects of NBs/Cl-/PMS were significant and universal while its upgrade rate was from 12.89% to 34.97%. Moreover, the synergistic effects can be further improved by increasing the concentration and Zeta potential of NBs. The main synergistic effects of NBs/Cl-/PMS system were due to the electrostatic attraction of negatively charged NBs to Na+ from NaCl, K+ from PMS, and H+ from phenol, which acted as a "bridge" between Cl- and HSO 5 - as well as phenol and Cl-/HSO 5 -, increasing active substance concentration. In addition, the addition of NBs completely changed the oxidation system of Cl-/PMS from one that increases environmental toxicity to one that reduces it. The reason was that the electrostatic attraction of NBs changed the active sites and degradation pathway of phenol, greatly reducing the production of highly toxic DBPs. This study developed a novel environmentally friendly oxidation technology, which provides an effective strategy to reduce the generation of DBPs in the Cl-/PMS system. [Display omitted] • There was a synergistic effect between NBs and the Cl-/PMS system. • NBs reduced the dosage of PMS and the risk of SO 4 2- pollution. • NBs could alter the degradation pathway and degree of pollutants in the Cl-/PMS system. • NBs reduced the production of disinfection byproducts from the Cl-/PMS system. • A low concentration of Cl- can drive the NB&PMS system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The renal function assessment biosensor utilizes the geometric and optical properties of CMS. • The CMS realizes multitasking biosensing by tuning magnetic field strength. • The CMS supplements the traditional single-function renal function assessment biosensors. • The CMS achieves concentrations detection of glucose and creatinine with excellent performance. Chronic renal disease has become one of the world's most serious public health problems in recent decades, leading to physical degradation, and even death. Glucose and creatinine in body fluids are important indicators used to assess renal dysfunction, but current biosensors only focus on the detection and performance improvement of a single indicator. To break through the idea limitation, a cylindrical metastructure based on indium antimonide material is proposed in this paper. It innovatively realizes the tunable multitasking renal function assessment biosensor, which is more suitable for the application of multiple medical detection scenarios. Through the control of the external magnetic field strength, the glucose concentration of 0 ∼ 400 g/L and the serum creatinine concentration of 80.9 ∼ 85.28 μmol/L can be separately detected in real-time, unlabeled, and non-destructively, which own better performance than previous renal function assessment biosensors in terms of detection range, R2, quality factor, figure of merit, and detection limit. This proposal has important reference value for promoting the detection and treatment of renal diseases, and the research of multitasking biosensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulation of food intake is associated with nutrient-sensing systems and the expression of appetite neuropeptides. Nutrient-sensing systems generate the capacity to sense nutrient availability to maintain energy and metabolism homeostasis. Appetite neuropeptides are prominent factors that are essential for regulating the appetite to adapt energy status. However, the link between the expression of appetite neuropeptides and nutrient-sensing systems remains debatable in carnivorous fish. Here, with intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of six essential amino acids (lysine, methionine, tryptophan, arginine, phenylalanine, or threonine) performed in mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi), we found that lysine and methionine are the feeding-stimulating amino acids other than the reported valine, and found a key appetite neuropeptide, neuropeptide Y (NPY), mainly contributes to the regulatory role of the essential amino acids on food intake. With the brain cells of mandarin fish cultured in essential amino acid deleted medium (lysine, methionine, histidine, valine, or leucine), we showed that only lysine deprivation activated the general control nonderepressible 2 (GCN2) signaling pathway, elevated α subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2α) phosphorylation, increased activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) protein expression, and finally induced transcription of npy. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of GCN2 and eIF2α phosphorylation signaling by GCN2iB or ISRIB, effectively blocked the transcriptional induction of npy in lysine deprivation. Overall, these findings could provide a better understanding of the GCN2 signaling pathway involved in food intake control by amino acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a zoonotic pathogen belonging to the Flavivirus genus, causing viral encephalitis in humans and reproductive failure in swine. The 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of JEV contains highly conservative secondary structures required for viral translation, RNA synthesis, and pathogenicity. Identification of host factors interacting with JEV 3'UTR is crucial for elucidating the underlying mechanism of flavivirus replication and pathogenesis. In this study, U2 snRNP auxiliary factor 2 (U2AF2) was identified as a novel cellular protein that interacts with the JEV genomic 3'UTR (the SL-I, SL-II, SL-III, and DB region) via its 1 to 148 amino acids. JEV infection or JEV 3' UTR on its own triggered the nuclear-localized U2AF2 redistributed to the cytoplasm and colocalized with viral replication complex. U2AF2 also interacts with JEV NS3 and NS5 protein, the downregulation of U2AF2 nearly abolished the formation of flavivirus replication vesicles. The production of JEV protein, RNA, and viral titers were all increased by U2AF2 overexpression and decreased by knockdown. U2AF2 also functioned as a pro-viral factor for Zika virus (ZIKV) and West Nile virus (WNV), but not for vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). Mechanically, U2AF2 facilitated the synthesis of both positive- and negative-strand flavivirus RNA without affecting viral attachment, internalization or release process. Collectively, our work paves the way for developing U2AF2 as a potential flavivirus therapeutic target. [Display omitted] ● U2AF2 supports flavivirus infection and is required for viral RNA synthesis. ● U2AF2 interacts with JEV 3'UTR and is hijacked by it from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. ● The 1-148 aa of U2AF2 is responsible for the interaction with JEV 3'UTR and the enhancement of viral replication. ● U2AF2 interacts with JEV NS3 and NS5 protein and is incorporated into the viral replication complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phytochemical investigation on the alkaloid fractions of Sophora alopecuroides L. led to the production of 11 undescribed matrine-type alkaloids, sophaloseedlines I – S (1−11), 12 known analogs (12−23), and an unexpected artificial matrine-derived Al(III) complex (24). The corresponding structures were elucidated by the interpretation of spectroscopic analyses, quantum chemical calculation, and six instances (1−4 , 18 , and 24), verified by X-ray crystallography. The biological activities screening demonstrated that none of the isolates exhibited cytotoxicity against four human cancer cell lines (HepG2, A549, THP-1, and MCF-7) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) at 50 μM, while moderate anti-inflammatory activity with IC 50 value from 15.6 to 47.8 μM was observed. The key structure-activity relationships of those matrine-type alkaloids for anti-inflammatory effects have been summarized. In addition, the most potent 7- epi -sophoramine (19) and aluminum sophaloseedline T (24) could effectively inhibit the release of pro-inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β), as well as the expression of iNOS and COX-2 proteins. The study on Sophora alopecuroides led to the production of 11 undescribed matrine-type alkaloids, 12 known analogs, and an unexpected artificial matrine-derived Al(III) complex. Compounds 19 and 24 were active against LPS-induced inflammation by suppressing the expression of iNOS and COX-2. [Display omitted] • Eleven undescribed matrine-type alkaloids (1 – 11) were isolated from Sophora alopecuroides. • A matrine-derived aluminium (III) complex (24) with unprecedented structure was unexpectedly obtained. • Compounds 19 and 24 could inhibit the release of many pro-inflammatory factors, and iNOS and COX-2 proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple Pd/Cu-catalyzed borylation of allenylic carbonates with B2Pin2 was developed using a cheap P(OEt)3 ligand. Under mild neutral conditions, 2-boryl 1,3-butadienes were obtained selectively in moderate to high yields. Furthermore, the use of different diboron reagents was also feasible in the reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immersion weakening effect of natural soil has always been a difficult problem encountered in geotechnical engineering practice. The bond dissolution is a common cause of soil strength deterioration, which is not yet fully understood. In this study, a thermodynamic-based constitutive model of structural soils based on the α model is first established, considering the bond strength by modifying the yield surface size and gradually reducing the bond strength with the development of plastic strain. Furthermore, by taking the meso-mechanisms of bond dissolution into account, the evolution rule of the free energy during the bond dissolution process is derived based on a homogenization approach, and a thermodynamic-based constitutive model of structural soil with bond dissolution is thereafter developed. By comparing with the results of one-dimensional compression tests and conventional triaxial tests, the model is verified to be capable of reflecting the gradual destructuration process of soil while loading. The comparison with triaxial test results of completely decomposed granite after different immersion durations and parametric studies show that based on the cross-scale energy equivalence, the model can well reflect the strength deterioration characteristics of completely decomposed granite with bond dissolution mechanisms at the mesoscale fully considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congeneric species may coexist at fine spatial scales through niche differentiation, however, the magnitude to which the effects of functional traits and phylogenetic relatedness contribute to their distribution along elevational gradients remains understudied. To test the hypothesis that trait and elevational range overlap can affect local speciesʼ coexistence, we first compared phylogenetic relatedness and trait (including morphological traits and leaf elements) divergence among closely related species of Rhododendron L. on Yulong Mountain, China. We then assessed relationships between the overlap of multiple functional traits and the degree of elevational range overlap among species pairs in a phylogenetic context. We found that phylogeny was a good predictor for most functional traits, where closely related species showed higher trait similarity and occupied different elevational niches at our study site. Species pairs of R. subgen. Hymenanthes (Blume) K. Koch showed low elevational range overlap and some species pairs of R. subgen. Rhododendron showed obvious niche differentiation. Trait divergence is greater for species in R. subgen. Rhododendron, and it plays an important role between species pairs with low elevational range overlap. Trait convergent selection takes place between co‐occurring closely related species that have high elevational range overlap, which share more functional trait space due to environmental filtering or ecological adaptation in more extreme habitats. Our results highlight the importance of evolutionary history and trait selection for species coexistence at fine ecological scales along environmental gradients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel multichromic cationic coordination polymer, named [Zn4(BTC)3(bcbpy)2]·5H2O (1), based on a new flexible viologen ligand 1,1′-bis(3-cyanobenzyl)-[4,4′-bipyridine]-1,1′-diium (H2bcbpy·2Cl), Zn(NO3)2·6H2O and pyromellitic acid (H4BTC) was synthesized. Compound 1 has good photosensitive activity and can respond to sunlight at room temperature. The colour of compound 1 changes rapidly in response to UV light and blue ray irradiation within 5 s. We rarely obtained the crystal structures after irradiation under UV light and blue ray. At the same time, compound 1 shows the hydrochromism phenomenon when heated at 120 °C, and it also shows the ability of detecting aniline and NO2− under low-concentration conditions (10−4 M). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cone penetration test (CPT) is widely used to explore the in situ soil mechanical properties and the stratigraphy. The numerical simulation of CPT can help understand its mechanical process and link the testing data to soil properties. However, this task is challenging due to multiple (i.e., geometric, material and contact) nonlinearity of the problem. This study extends a large deformation numerical framework, smoothed particle finite element method (SPFEM), to address this problem. A finite element formulation for multibody frictional contact problems is incorporated to deal with the interaction between the steel cone and soil. An explicit stress point integration scheme with substepping is adopted to solve the elastoplastic constitutive equation of soil. The details of the novel numerical procedure are demonstrated. Using the developed approach, parametric studies are conducted for both undrained Tresca soil and fully drained modified Cam-Clay. The correctness and robustness of the proposed approach are validated. For the undrained Tresca soil, a linear relationship between the cone factor N kt and the natural logarithm of rigidity index ln (I r) is confirmed, and then, a new equation for the interpretation of soil undrained shear strength is proposed. For fully drained modified Cam-Clay, the effects of some model parameters and earth pressure coefficient at-rest K 0 on the drained cone factor are elucidated. Direct numerical simulation of CPT with SPFEM can provide an effective approach to determine some key parameters of the soil constitutive model and therefore improve the accuracy of numerical simulation for engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) have been found in great numbers, but the physical mechanism of these sources is still a mystery. The redshift evolutions of the FRB energy distribution function and the volumetric rate shed light on the origin of FRBs. However, such estimations rely on the dispersion measurement (DM)–redshift (z) relationship. A few FRBs that have been detected recently show large excess DMs beyond the expectation from the cosmological and Milky Way contributions, which indicates large spread of DMs from their host galaxies. In this work, we adopt two lognormal-distributed DM host models and estimate the energy function using the non-repeating FRBs selected from the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME)/FRB Catalog 1. By comparing the lognormal-distributed DM host models to a constant DM host model, the FRB energy function results are consistent within the measurement uncertainty. We also estimate the volumetric rate of the non-repeating FRBs in three different redshift bins. The volumetric rate shows that the trend is consistent with the stellar-mass density redshift evolution. Since the lognormal-distributed DM host model increases the measurement errors, the inference of FRBs tracking the stellar-mass density is nonetheless undermined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics and evolution of pulmonary fibrosis in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have not been adequately studied. AI-assisted chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) was used to investigate the proportion of COVID-19 patients with pulmonary fibrosis, the relationship between the degree of fibrosis and the clinical classification of COVID-19, the characteristics of and risk factors for pulmonary fibrosis, and the evolution of pulmonary fibrosis after discharge. The incidence of pulmonary fibrosis in patients with severe or critical COVID-19 was significantly higher than that in patients with moderate COVID-19. There were significant differences in the degree of pulmonary inflammation and the extent of the affected area among patients with mild, moderate and severe pulmonary fibrosis. The IL-6 level in the acute stage and albumin level were independent risk factors for pulmonary fibrosis. Ground-glass opacities, linear opacities, interlobular septal thickening, reticulation, honeycombing, bronchiectasis and the extent of the affected area were significantly improved 30, 60 and 90 days after discharge compared with at discharge. The more severe the clinical classification of COVID-19, the more severe the residual pulmonary fibrosis was; however, in most patients, pulmonary fibrosis was improved or even resolved within 90 days after discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the mechanical properties of fused deposition modeling (FDM) parts, a compatibilizer and nanoparticles were used as additions in Polycarbonate and Acrylonitrile‐Butadiene‐Styrene (PC/ABS) blends, and four PC/ABS composites were used to fabricate the FDM samples in this study. Two simplified deposition modes of the FDM process were proposed and used to investigate the bonding effect and deposition effect. The bonding effects of the four materials were first investigated using model I of the FDM process. Then, a linear relationship between the bonding strength and the porosity was found, and the optimal processing conditions that produced the best bonding strength were determined. These optimal processing conditions were then used in mode II of the FDM process to fabricate four samples. The mechanical properties and structural characterizations of these samples were studied using tensile tests, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). One interesting phenomenon observed from the tensile tests was that the necking of the PC/ABS FDM sample can spread throughout the total gauge length and measure more than 100% of the strain when the compatibilizer and the nanoparticles were added, which can be attributed to a balance between bonding properties and ductility. The results verify the applicability of PC/ABC composites to FDM technology and suggest that compatibilizers and nanoparticles are suitable candidates to improve the bonding strength and the deposition effect of PC/ABS FDM parts. In conclusion, the balance between bonding properties and ductility is key to improving the tensile behaviors of PC/ABS FDM parts by adjusting the compatibility and porosity of blended PC/ABS samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Janus layered metamaterial (JLM) operating in the terahertz (THz) region is proposed, which increases the direction dimension to manipulate the propagation of electromagnetic waves (EWs) through the introduction of nonlinear Kerr media. It achieves multi-scale multitasking with different logic gates and mode-switching biosensing, making a breakthrough on traditional single-function and single-scale THz devices. Due to the electro-optical effect, the liquid crystal (LC) is adjusted by the electric field, and the sharp transmission peak generated by the located defect mode resonance can be used to realize the forward scale logic product gate and the backward scale exclusive NOR gate. In addition, by locking the sharp transmission peak, the biosensing can have different detection ranges under the LC modulation. Therefore, when EWs propagate forward and backward, the mode switching of different biosensing categories with a glucose concentration of 300–550 g/l, creatinine concentration of 80.9–85.28 μmol/l, and the blood component in refractive index of 1.33–1.38 can be realized. The JLM proposed provides a possibility for the design of the chip-level compact optical integrated circuit and offers a new idea for multi-purpose biomedical detection, owning certain research value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Objective: Microglial abnormalities have been reported in pathologic specimens from patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a genetic disorder characterized by epilepsy, intellectual disability, and autism. However, the pathogenic role of microglia in epilepsy in TSC is poorly understood, particularly whether microglia defects may be a primary contributor to epileptogenesis or are secondary to seizures or simply epiphenomena. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that Tsc1 gene inactivation in microglia is sufficient to cause epilepsy in mouse models of TSC. Methods: Using a chemokine receptor, Cx3cr1, to target microglia, conventional Tsc1Cx3cr1‐CreCKO (conditional knockout) mice and postnatal‐inducible Tsc1Cx3cr1‐CreERCKO mice were generated and assessed for molecular and histopathologic evidence of microglial abnormalities, mechanistic target of rapamycin 1 (mTORC1) pathway activation, and epilepsy. Results: Tsc1Cx3cr1‐CreCKO mice exhibited a high efficiency of microglia Tsc1 inactivation, mTORC1 activation, increased microglial size and number, and robust epilepsy, which were rapamycin‐dependent. However, Cre reporter studies demonstrated that constitutive Cx3cr1 expression affected not only microglia, but also a large percentage of cortical neurons, confounding the role of microglia in epileptogenesis in Tsc1 Cx3cr1‐CreCKO mice. In contrast, postnatal inactivation of Tsc1 utilizing a tamoxifen‐inducible Cx3cr1‐CreER resulted in a more‐selective microglia Tsc1 inactivation with high efficiency, mTORC1 activation, and increased microglial size and number, but no documented epilepsy. Significance: Microglia abnormalities may contribute to epileptogenesis in the context of neuronal involvement in TSC mouse models, but selective Tsc1 gene inactivation in microglia alone may not be sufficient to cause epilepsy, suggesting that microglia have more supportive roles in the pathogenesis of seizures in TSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) is a well-known herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for treating cardiovascular diseases, but the underlying mechanism remains to be fully elucidated. Here, we showed that Danshen and its active ingredient rosmarinic acid exhibited antiplatelet effects through the inhibition of ERp57, a member of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) with potential roles in platelet aggregation. Danshen extract (DSE) exhibited potent inhibitory effects on the platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid- (AA-) induced platelet aggregation and the enzymatic activity of ERp57. Rosmarinic acid was identified by virtual screening and molecular docking as one of the hit compounds for ERp57. In line with this, rosmarinic acid displayed significant inhibitory effect on ERp57 activity and inhibited AA-induced platelet aggregation. Taken together, we demonstrated for the first time that DSE and rosmarinic acid displayed inhibitory effects on the catalytic activity of ERp57, providing evidence of the regulatory role of ERp57 underlying the antiplatelet effects of Danshen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities are the main carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emitters in China, and it is important to explore both the characteristics and reduction potential of their CO 2 emissions. This paper calculates the industrial energy-related CO 2 emissions (IECEs) of 17 cities in China's Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region from 2005 to 2014 and analyses the driving factors of CO 2 emissions using the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI). In addition, this paper predicts the CO 2 reduction potential of this group of cities for the period from 2015 to 2020. The results show that (1) during the sample period, industrial CO 2 emissions in the studied cities increased by a factor of 1.61. Economic output is the greatest contributor, followed by population size. Energy intensity and energy structure are the two main emission mitigation factors; (2) the driving factors of CO 2 emissions in the group of cities exhibit distinct spatial characteristics, indicating that future analyses of cities in this area should have distinctly different foci; and (3) the forecasting results show that under moderate and aggressive scenarios, CO 2 emissions in the studied cities can be reduced by 281.59 Mt and 711.90 Mt, respectively, by 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Epilepsy is one of the most prominent symptoms of tuberous sclerosis complex ( TSC), a genetic disorder, and may be related to developmental defects resulting from impaired TSC1 or TSC2 gene function in astrocytes and neurons. Inactivation of the Tsc1 gene driven by a glial-fibrillary acidic protein ( GFAP) promoter during embryonic brain development leads to widespread pathologic effects on astrocytes and neurons, culminating in severe, progressive epilepsy in mice ( Tsc1 GFAP-Cre mice). However, the developmental timing and cellular specificity relevant to epileptogenesis in this model has not been well defined. The present study evaluates the effect of postnatal Tsc1 gene inactivation on pathologic features of astrocytes and neurons and development of epilepsy. Methods An inducible Tsc1 knock-out mouse was created utilizing a tamoxifen-driven GFAP-Cre ER line ( Tsc1 GFAP-Cre ER mice) with TSC1 reduction induced postnatally at 2 and 6 weeks of age, and compared to conventional Tsc1 GFAP-Cre mice with prenatal TSC1 reduction. Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, histology, and video-electroencephalography ( EEG) assessed mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway activation, astrogliosis, neuronal organization, and spontaneous seizures, respectively. Results Tsc1 gene inactivation at 2 weeks of age was sufficient to cause astrogliosis and mild epilepsy in Tsc1 GFAP-Cre ER mice, but the phenotype was much less severe than that observed with prenatal Tsc1 gene inactivation in Tsc1 GFAP-Cre mice. Both astrocytes and neurons were affected by prenatal and postnatal Tsc1 gene activation to a degree similar to the severity of epilepsy, suggesting that both cellular types may contribute to epileptogenesis. Significance These findings support a model in which the developmental timing of TSC1 loss dictates the severity of neuronal and glial abnormalities and resulting epilepsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aim Recent investigation revealed that dysbiosis in the gut flora and disruption of permeability of intestinal barrier are possible causes for the development of autoimmune hepatitis. Supplementation of sodium butyrate has been suggested to protect liver injury from disrupted permeability of small intestine. In current study, we employed S100/Freund's complete adjuvant induced autoimmune hepatitis to investigate therapeutic efficacy of sodium butyrate and its mechanism in the liver and upper small intestine. Methods C57BL/6 mice were employed and divided into three groups – control group (n = 8), autoimmune hepatitis group (n = 12) and autoimmune hepatitis with treatment of sodium butyrate group (n = 12). Histological staining and western blot analyses were employed to evaluate liver and upper small intestine morphology and gene expression respectively. Results The findings revealed that S100/Freund’s complete adjuvant caused liver injury and disruption of upper small intestine villi. Sodium butyrate attenuated the injuries and prevented migration of Escherichia coli into the liver. Moreover, the effect of sodium butyrate on protection of injuries of the liver and upper small intestine could be due to inhibition of toll-like receptor 4 signaling pathway, as well as its down-regulation of inflammatory cytokines – interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-a. Conclusions Sodium butyrate can prevent liver injury by maintaining the integrity of small intestine and inhibiting inflammatory response in S100/Freund’s complete adjuvant induced autoimmune hepatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astrocytes play important roles in normal brain function and neurological diseases. In vivo two-photon excitation laser scanning microscopy has the potential to reveal rapid, dynamic structural changes in cells in a variety of physiological and pathological conditions. The type of in vivo imaging method has been shown to affect the plasticity of dendritic spines of neurons, but the optimal in vivo imaging methods of astrocytes have not been established. We compared open-skull and thinned-skull imaging methods for two-photon laser microscopy of live astrocytes in neocortex of GFAP-GFP transgenic mice. The thinned-skull method provided stable image intensity and morphological features of astrocytes in vivo over at least one week, with no evidence of astrogliosis. In contrast, the open-skull method resulted in significant changes in image intensity and induced astrogliosis. The thinned-skull method is the preferred approach for in vivo imaging of astrocytes under most conditions involving gross astrocyte modulation or causing astrogliosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic disorder, characterized by tumor formation in multiple organs and severe neurologic manifestations, including epilepsy, intellectual disability, and autism. Abnormalities of both neurons and astrocytes have been implicated in contributing to the neurologic phenotype of TSC, but the role of microglia in TSC has not been investigated. The objectives of this study were to characterize microglial activation in a mouse model of TSC, involving conditional inactivation of the Tsc1 gene predominantly in glial cells ( Tsc1GFAPCKO mice), and to test the hypothesis that microglial activation contributes to epileptogenesis in this mouse model. Methods Microglial and astrocyte activation was examined in Tsc1GFAPCKO mice by ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein immunohistochemistry. Cytokine and chemokine expression was evaluated with quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Seizures were monitored by video-electroencephalography (EEG). The effect of minocycline in inhibiting microglial and astrocyte activation, cytokine expression, and seizures was tested. Results Microglial cell number and size were increased in cortex and hippocampus of 3- to 4-week-old Tsc1GFAPCKO mice, which correlated with the onset of seizures. Minocycline treatment prevented the increase in number and cell size of microglia in 4-week-old Tsc1GFAPCKO mice. However, minocycline treatment had no effect on astrocyte proliferation and cytokine/chemokine expression and the progression of seizures in Tsc1GFAPCKO mice. Significance Microglia cell number and size are abnormal in Tsc1GFAPCKO mice, and minocycline treatment inhibits this microglia activation, but does not suppress seizures. Microglia may play a role in the neurologic manifestations of TSC, but additional studies are needed in other models and human studies to determine whether microglia are critical for epileptogenesis in TSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epilepsy and other neurological deficits are common, disabling manifestations of the genetic disorder, tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Brain inflammation has been implicated in contributing to epileptogenesis in acquired epilepsy due to brain injury, but the potential role of inflammatory mechanisms in genetic epilepsies is relatively unexplored. In this study, we investigated activation of inflammatory mediators and tested the effects of anti-inflammatory treatment on epilepsy in the Tsc1 -GFAP conditional knock-out mouse model of TSC ( Tsc1 GFAP CKO mice). Real-time quantitative RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting demonstrated increased expression of specific cytokines and chemokines, particularly IL-1β and CXCL10, in the neocortex and hippocampus of Tsc1 GFAP CKO mice, which was reversed by treatment with a mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) inhibitor. Double-labeling immunohistochemical studies indicated that the increased IL-1β was localized primarily to astrocytes. Importantly, the increase in inflammatory markers was also observed in astrocyte culture in vitro and at 2 weeks of age in Tsc1 GFAP CKO mice before the onset of epilepsy in vivo , indicating that the inflammatory changes were not secondary to seizures. Epicatechin-3-gallate, an inhibitor of IL-1β and CXCL10, at least partially reversed the elevated cytokine and chemokine levels, reduced seizure frequency, and prolonged survival of Tsc1 GFAP CKO mice. These findings suggest that mTOR-mediated inflammatory mechanisms may be involved in epileptogenesis in the genetic epilepsy, TSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Jiegeng (Radix Platycodi), the dried root of Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC (Campanulaceae), has been used to treat cough, sore throat, bronchitis, and bronchial asthma for thousands of years. It is commonly prescribed with Gancao (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae ) as a herbal combination in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to produce synergistic effects. Aim of the study To elucidate the herbaceous compatibility of Jiegeng and Gancao, we investigated the comparative pharmacokinetics, intestinal absorption, and microbial metabolism of platycodin D (PD) and deapio-platycodin D (DPD), the platycodins contained in Jiegeng. Materials and methods In the comparative pharmacokinetic study, the concentrations of PD and DPD in Jiegeng extract (JE) and the Jiegeng–Gancao herb pair (JGHP) were determined in rat plasma using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). In addition, the main pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using data analysis software (DAS). Furthermore, in vitro studies using Caco-2 cells and fecal lysates were performed to contradistinguish the intestinal absorption and microbial metabolism of PD and DPD in JE from those in JGHP. Results The peak concentration ( C max ) and area under the plasma concentration curve ( AUC ) of PD in rats orally administrated JGHP significantly increased compared to that in rats treated with JE. In addition, the time to reach peak concentration ( T max ) and half-life ( t 1/2 ) of PD and DPD in combination with JGHP were all prolonged compared with those of JE. There was no significant difference in the absorption of PD between JE and JGHP in Caco-2 cells. However, the hydrolysis of both PD and DPD in JGHP were weaker than that in JE after a 2-h incubation in fecal lysate which might be responsible for the different pharmacokinetic profiles of the platycodins in JE and JGHP. Conclusion In this study, we discovered that Gancao might influence the pharmacokinetic profiles of PD and DPD in Jiegeng. Furthermore, the difference in profiles may be attributable to the inequable microbial metabolism rather than intestinal absorption of the platycodins in JE and JGHP. The results of this study elucidated the pharmacokinetic compatibility and rationale for the use of JGHP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve the problem of decision discontinuity and the problem of authorization inflexibility exist in the attribute based access control model under the cloud environment, this paper proposed a kind of improved attribute based access control model. What was more, it introduced the concepts of obligation and condition in usage control and the concept of meta state into the model. The improved model realized flexible and continuous authorization through the monitoring of obligation set which could complete the state transition and then trigger the authorization. The research studied the improved model from two aspects of formal definition and security analysis. Its corresponding advantages were also analyzed. Compared with the traditional model, the model has higher security and a more flexible way of authorization. It is more suitable for the cloud environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to examine the phylogeographic and evolutionary history of Picea likiangensis, a dominant species of the conifer forests in the eastern declivity of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. We collected 422 individuals from 42 natural populations of three major varieties classified under this species. In conifers, mitochondrial (mt) DNA and chloroplast (cp) DNA dispersed by seeds or pollen experience very different levels of gene flow. To this end, we examined the sequence variation of two mtDNA fragments ( nad5 intron 1 and nad1 intron b/c) and three cpDNA fragments ( trnL-trnF, trnS-trnG and nadhK/C). We found that cpDNA probably introgressed from P. purpurea into remote populations of P. likiangensis through long-distance dispersal. Multiple refugia seem to have been maintained for P. likiangensis during the Last Glacial Maximum because the cpDNA and mtDNA haplotypes recovered were fixed in the different regions. Postglacial expansions were only detected at the distributional edges of this species where a single cpDNA or mtDNA haplotype was fixed in adjacent populations. However, genetic imprints of postglacial expansions from these two sets of markers were different in the western and southeastern regions, which may result from the long-distance dispersal of the cpDNA, as well as its fast lineage sorting during intraspecific divergences. Analysis of molecular variance further suggested that genetic differentiation between the three varieties is higher at cpDNA markers than at mtDNA markers, which supports the previous viewpoint that cpDNA markers with a high rate of gene flow may be more effective in delimitating closely related taxa. Together, the results of the present study highlight the evolutionary complexity of a widely distributed species owing to interactions among local and edge expansion, long-distance dispersal, and intraspecific divergences at two sets of DNA genomes with different rates of gene flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: mTor kinase is involved in cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. The roles of mTor activators, Rheb1 and Rheb2, have not been established in vivo. Here, we report that Rheb1, but not Rheb2, is critical for embryonic survival and mTORC1 signaling. Embryonic deletion of Rheb1 in neural progenitor cells abolishes mTORC1 signaling in developing brain and increases mTORC2 signaling. Remarkably, embryonic and early postnatal brain development appears grossly normal in these Rheb1f/f,Nes-cre mice with the notable exception of deficits of myelination. Conditional expression of Rheb1 transgene in neural progenitors increases mTORC1 activity and promotes myelination in the brain. In addition the Rheb1 transgene rescues mTORC1 signaling and hypomyelination in the Rheb1f/f,Nes-cre mice. Our study demonstrates that Rheb1 is essential for mTORC1 signaling and myelination in the brain, and suggests that mTORC1 signaling plays a role in selective cellular adaptations, rather than general cellular viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We previously reported that over-expression of SMYD3, a histone H3-K4 specific di- and tri-methyltransferase, plays a key role in cell viability, adhesion, migration and invasion. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying these phenomena and found that knocking down SMYD3 expression in tumor cells significantly reduced the biological function of HGF and inhibited carcinoma cells migration and invasion. Due to the fact that the proto-oncogene c-Met encodes the high-affinity receptor for HGF, and the HGF-c-Met signaling plays a critical role in the tumor genesis, we further identified the partial correlation between SMYD3 and c-Met. The results showed that high expression of c-Met accompanied with over-expression of SMYD3. Silencing SMYD3 expression in tumor cells by specific shRNAs down-regulated c-Met gene transcription, while over-expressing SMYD3 induced c-Met transcription. Moreover, we demonstrated here that two SMYD3 binding sites within the c-Met core promoter region were significant in the transactivation of c-Met. The present findings provide significant insights into the epigenetic regulatory mechanisms of oncogene c-Met expression, and develop the strategies that may inhibit the progression of cancer migration and invasion. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Based on the convergence confinement method, yielding support has become an important means to control large deformations of soft rock. However, it is not sufficient to adopt a single yield for different failure processes of the surrounding rock. This study investigated the zonal deformation and failure mechanism of surrounding rock during open tunnel boring machine (TBM) excavation of inclined shafts under conditions of low strength, high stress, and pore water. In addition, to achieve coupling between the surrounding rock and support system, a new stage control device was designed. The device was composed of a sleeve, cone, and tray. It could realize two or multiple yielding stages and obtain different yielding pressures and lengths by adjusting the parameters of each component according to the field conditions. The device was successfully applied in an excavation project of an open TBM in the inclined shaft of the Kekegai coal mine. The monitoring results indicated that the ratio of the maximum and minimum surrounding rock pressures in the conventional support section was 1.7 and 1.5, and that in the test section was 1.5 and 1.4, respectively. Compared with the conventional support design, the stress of the bolt was smaller and more uniform after the new stage control device was adopted. The monitoring results also indicated a reduction in the deformation of the surrounding rock, and there were no significant local deformations. Simultaneously, the crack in the surrounding rock in the test area was reduced, and the range of the loose zone was reduced from 2.5 to 2 m. The results showed that the new stage control support technology exhibited a good control effect on the surrounding rock and aided the TBM in realizing fast driving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve the problem of inflexibility in the allocation and revocation of attributes, which existed in the attribute based access control model under the cloud environment, this paper put forward a method based on the meta value. The research was done from two aspects of formal definition and performance simulation experiment to study the improved model. With the introduction of concept of meta value, it proposed a method of allocation and revocation of attribute based on the meta value, which solved the problem of fine-grained attribute revocation in the model. Compared with the traditional repeat authorization method, the method conforms to the principle of least privilege. What is more, it has higher security and higher efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Afterglow materials are of primary interest in optoelectronics and bioelectronics. Here, a long‐lived phosphorescence afterglow is reported from carboxylated carbon nanotubes (c‐CNTs) confined within boron oxynitride (BNO). The formation of covalent and hydrogen bonds in c‐CNT@BNO enhances the rigidity of the hybrid structure and alleviates the non‐radiative deactivation of excited triplet states, leading to room‐temperature phosphorescence (RTP). The afterglow material exhibits an ultra‐long RTP lifetime of up to 476.6 ms, with an afterglow time of 4.0 s, distinguishable by naked eyes. This unprecedented feature makes c‐CNT act like a light‐sensitive neuron and it is possible to achieve memorizing−forgetting behavior in the form of optical memory plasticity, owing to photons' capture‐and‐slow‐release process. In analogy to the biological brain, both memory strength and forgetting time are proportional to learning exercise, including the intensity and time of irradiation training. The study provides an effective protocol for the synthesis of afterglow nanomaterials, extending their application to brain‐like intelligent technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geometric problem solving (GPS) has always been a long-standing challenge in the fields of automated reasoning. Its problem representation and solution process embody rich symmetry. This paper is the second in a series of our works. Based on the Geometry Formalization Theory and the FormalGeo geometric formal system, we have developed the Formal Geometric Problem Solver (FGPS) in Python 3.10, which can serve as an interactive assistant or as an automated problem solver. FGPS is capable of executing geometric predicate logic and performing relational reasoning and algebraic computation, ultimately achieving readable, traceable, and verifiable automated solutions for geometric problems. We observed that symmetry phenomena exist at various levels within FGPS and utilized these symmetries to further refine the system's design. FGPS employs symbols to represent geometric shapes and transforms various geometric patterns into a set of symbolic operation rules. This maintains symmetry in basic transformations, shape constructions, and the application of theorems. Moreover, we also have annotated the formalgeo7k dataset, which contains 6981 geometry problems with detailed formal language descriptions and solutions. Experiments on formalgeo7k validate the correctness and utility of the FGPS. The forward search method with random strategy achieved a 39.71% problem-solving success rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the form factors of B (s) to light D-wave tensor mesons with J PC = 2 - - ( ρ 2 , ω 2 , K 2 and ϕ 2 ) are calculated via the light cone sum rules (LCSR) in the framework of heavy quark effective eld theory (HQEFT). Firstly, the expressions of form factors in terms of the light cone distribution amplitudes (LCDAs) of tensor mesons are derived via the LCSR at the leading order of heavy quark expansion. Similar to the case of 2 + + tensor mesons, the penguin type form factors can be obtained directly from the corresponding semileptonic ones. Considering the light tensor meson LCDAs to twist-3 and quark mass corrections, we give the numerical results of form factors systematically. Based on the form factors given here, we investigate the branching ratios, longitudinal polarization fractions and forward-backward asymmetries of relevant charged current induced semileptonic decays. Our results may be tested by more precise experiments in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tunable metastructur (MS) is popular for research today, but it is complex and difficult to manipulate, so a novel solution has been proposed. In this paper, a MS based on gravitational field and graphene modulation is presented, which can achieve polarization conversion, amplitude modulation, and operating band shift in the range of the gigahertz (GHz) band. The proposed polarization converter (PC) consists of mercury-filled glass cavities, graphene resonators, a copper substrate, and a polyimide dielectric layer. The mercury flows to different parts through the specially designed glass cavities under the effect of the gravitational field, which results in different functions. When the proposed device is not flipped, within 2.53–4.38 GHz (the relative bandwidth is 54.28 %), the linear-polarized electromagnetic wave can be efficiently converted to the circular-polarized ones, whose axial ratio is less than 3 dB. Moreover, when it is flipped, the designed PC can realize the function of cross-polarization conversion and maintain a polarization conversion rate above 90 % in the band of 3.92–7.36 GHz (the relative bandwidth is 60.99 %). The joint tuning of graphene and gravitational field and related parameters are discussed. Moreover, the physics mechanism of the proposed device is explained according to the surface current diagrams. The proposed PC possesses the advantages of broadband, novel tuning, multifunctional modulation, etc. It can be used in the field of communication, electromagnetic countermeasures, and the electromagnetic wave modulation field. [Display omitted] • The Ms utilizes gravitational field and external voltage jointly. • The Ms can realize LCPC and amplitude modulation in different states. • The Ms supplements the traditional multifunctional MS. • The tailored methods are more flexible and convenient. • The Ms has the advantages of ultra-wide bandwidth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel rectifier based on a triple line-voltage cascaded VIENNA converter (LVC-VC) was proposed. Compared to the conventional cascaded H-bridge converters, the switch voltage stress is lower, and the numbers of switches and dc capacitors are fewer under similar operating conditions in the proposed new multilevel converter. The modeling and control for the LVC-VC ware presented. Based on the analysis of the operation principle of the new converter, the power factor correction of the proposed converter was realized by employing a traditional one-cycle control strategy. The minimum average value and maximum harmonic components of the dc-link voltages of the three VIENNA rectifier modules ware calculated. Three VIENNA dc-link voltages were unbalanced under the unbalanced load conditions, so the zero sequence current was injected to the three inner currents for balancing three VIENNA dc-link voltages. Simulation and the results of the experiment verified the availability of the new proposed multilevel converter and the effectiveness of the corresponding control strategy applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the past two years, studies have found a significant increase in neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in patients with IgA vasculitis (IgAV), which is correlated with the severity of the disease. NETs have been reported as an intervention target in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effect of targeted degradation of NETs using DNase I in IgAV rat model. Methods: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: the IgAV model group, the DNase I intervention group and the normal control group, with an average of 8 rats in each group. The model group was established by using Indian ink, ovalbumin, and Freund's complete adjuvant. In the intervention group, DNase I was injected through tail vein 3 days before the end of established model. The circulating cell free-DNA (cf-DNA) and myeloperoxidase-DNA (MPO-DNA) were analyzed. The presence of NETs in the kidney, gastric antrum and descending duodenum were detected using multiple fluorescences immunohistochemistry and Western blots. Morphological changes of the tissues were observed. Results: After the intervention of DNase I, there was a significant reduction in cf-DNA and MPO-DNA levels in the intervention group compared to the IgAV model group (all P<0.001). The presence of NETs in renal, gastric, and duodenal tissues of the intervention group exhibited a significant decrease compared to the IgAV model group (P < 0.01). Moreover, the intervention group demonstrated significantly lower levels of renal MPO and citrullinated histone H3 (citH3) protein expression when compared to the IgAV model group (all P < 0.05). The HE staining results of intervention group demonstrated a significant reduction in congestion within glomerular and interstitial capillaries. Moreover, there was a notable improvement in gastric and intestinal mucosa necrosis, congestion and bleeding. Additionally, there was a substantial decrease in inflammatory cells infiltration. Conclusion: The degradation of NETs can be targeted by DNase I to mitigate tissue damage in IgAV rat models. Targeted regulation of NETs holds potential as a therapeutic approach for IgAV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, in order to improve the properties of nanostarch-based nanocomposite film for food packaging, a type of nanocomposite film based on corn nanostarch (CNS) as the matrix and modified cellulose nanocrystals (modified-CNCs) as the reinforcement was prepared using a solution casting method. The cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were modified by a two-step method in which they were initially crosslinked with citric acid, and subsequently amidated with chitosan. Then, a type of CNS/modified-CNCs nanocomposite film with different content levels of modified-CNC were prepared and characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR); X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS); X-Ray Diffraction (XRD); Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC); and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). It was observed that when compared with the pure CNS film, the 8.0 wt% modified-CNCs loaded nanostarch-based nanocomposite film had displayed a 230.0% increase in tensile strength. And the moisture absorption ability had decreased by 25.6%; water vapor permeability had decreased by 87.4%; and the water contact angle value had increased by 18.1%. Also the results of this experimental study had revealed that the CNS/modified-CNCs nanocomposite film had displayed better antimicrobial activities against E. coli and S. aureus bacteria when compared with the pure CNS film. • Cellulose nanocrystals were modified by crosslinking and amidation. • The nanostarch-based film was reinforced by modified-CNCs. • The nanocomposite film possessed the antimicrobial activity. • The network structure was formed in the nanocomposite film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Mycorrhiza play key roles for ecosystem structure and functioning in forests. However, how different mycorrhizal types influence mountain forest biodiversity–ecosystem functioning (BEF) relationships are largely unknown. We evaluate how the diversity of distinct mycorrhiza‐associated fungi and trees shapes forest carbon storage along elevational gradients. Location: Gaoligong Mountains within Hengduan Mountains, Southwest China. Taxon: Seed plants and mycorrhizal fungi. Methods: We used the data from 31 subtropical forest plots along elevational gradients on two aspects (east and west) of the mountain. We quantified species richness of trees and symbiotic fungi and assigned both to their mycorrhizal type (arbuscular mycorrhiza [AM], ectomycorrhiza [EcM] and ericoid mycorrhiza [ErM]). We then examined the diversity effects of mycorrhiza‐associated fungi and trees on above‐ground carbon stored in trees and organic carbon stored in soils. Results: Species richness was highest for AM trees (79.5%), followed by ErM trees (13.4%) and then EcM trees (7.1%). Species richness of AM‐associated trees and fungi decreased with increasing elevation, while ErM‐associated trees and fungi showed an opposite trend. EcM‐associated diversity followed a hump‐shaped relationship with elevation. Positive relationships between diversity and above‐ground carbon were detected in all three mycorrhizal associations, but despite low species number, canopy‐dominating EcM trees comprised 64.4% of the amount of above‐ground carbon. Furthermore, community‐weighted means of height exhibited positive correlations with forest above‐ground carbon, indicating that positive selection effects occur. Soil organic carbon was positively related to EcM‐associated fungi diversity, above‐ground carbon mass and soil nitrogen availability, with the latter having strongest direct effects. Main Conclusions: The distributions of forest biodiversity and carbon storage can be modulated by distinct mycorrhizal fungi and trees. Moreover, future global changes (e.g. climate warming, intensifying nitrogen deposition) could alter the mycorrhizal‐mediated BEF relationships in mountain forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity across multiple trophic levels is required to maintain multiple ecosystem functions. Yet it remains unclear how multitrophic diversity and species interactions regulate ecosystem multifunctionality. Here, combining data from 9 different trophic groups (including trees, shrubs, herbs, leaf mites, small mammals, bacteria, pathogenic fungi, saprophytic fungi, and symbiotic fungi) and 13 ecosystem functions related to supporting, provisioning, and regulating services, we used a multitrophic perspective to evaluate the effects of elevation, diversity, and network complexity on scale‐dependent subalpine forest multifunctionality. Our results demonstrated that elevation and soil pH significantly modified species composition and richness across multitrophic groups and influenced multiple functions simultaneously. We present evidence that species richness across multiple trophic groups had stronger effects on multifunctionality than species richness at any single trophic level. Moreover, biotic associations, indicating the complexity of trophic networks, were positively associated with multifunctionality. The relative effects of diversity on multifunctionality increased at the scale of the larger community compared to a scale accounting for neighboring interactions. Our results highlight the paramount importance of scale‐ and context‐dependent multitrophic diversity and interactions for a better understanding of mountain ecosystem multifunctionality in a changing world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]